Evening sentinel, Saturday, March 31, 1923 · page 6

 
 

& "The Blue Rboibm

i By Gerald Beaumont.

 

 

go to Kansans you
meet Madam Double-
ls to be found either b0-
. . ‘ .3... .zwii-regisier in the Alexa—
. . .r‘v or bark of her desk at the
- , ‘ ..h is next door.
.. was, whvn little Dolores mug
.. r a de nmnr at tho Purple
1 _ 7, nnd Mike Mnrwych sat in a
... (r the Palace spinning the web
imvii‘s Spider. and Johnny
mm the dice-game at Bray-

'.‘ ‘ v.1 f‘vf‘l‘
~,_— WIN?

5‘.»

11'n

inf.

~ '\ iiitls Dolores is gone;
min and Johnny Powell.

have their laws.” says at.
y.. ‘7. up, “which the courts of Justice
,' .. . undn,” Johnny know those

and it was his business to see
mm broke them—at least not
inblo. According to his own
. Johnny was an the “up and
L. \wvor in all his life bad he cheat-

. mm or wronged a woman. and
. H. own viewpoint he was not a
Those who stood in front

n

i- ' ‘

-r
.L .u-nut did the gambling. Johnny
, .. reaped the mathematical por-
nr the ivory God; in return

. he run the game. performing

"‘1. mirai'lcs as he paid ofl-—o.hd
. ‘v‘r: law and order with a mile

~ ~ nuinmatic. Some day. if he
. . llill'in)’ would go down to the
x . . i'.|.“l_ hang a hammock under a
.. ,, mm. on his own ranchita. and
-.r rmi- h dice again. The blue oyes

. wit-w! out of Johnny‘s pals face
tired. though he had seen
-!il}'-fUUr summer.

- l".mI-il, when the take-in Md

, ii‘miilurly large, Johnny dined
i‘hrpli- i‘igenn. Here the on-

-. :vvwm wns first-class. For as.
more was Billy Nicholls. who
wake the saxophone laugh or
:n nine languages; 1‘. Belle
the whirlwind dancer who was
.. sire: and there was. also.
A i Dolores Romero. “The Border
'r.-.'Vic," who was a rare llttl.
iliilit‘d.
n-ll ihv- lights were lowered a
n'nl Dolores sang “The Dovs'b
. Iii-v." Johnny Powell used to take
-. imm- of sugar. mark them
mlv with his pencil, and roll
in. i-n iiie tablecloth. But they had
- mmo up the right way. and
\ .. hum his peace until they should.
ntwhil» some one also used to loan
' .. doorway, listening to Dolores.
r a winning his thick lips thought-

\

oéa-‘ 7

V. '

o. ai,.

\n‘

1' is impossible to describe Mike
'\\(‘h.
'-"vi‘\\'yl‘h owned the Palace. a fact
- h woryone understood: but he
s also the real proprietor of the
in l'lgeon. and this was some.
' u: that Johnny Powell didn't know
little Dolores had found out to her

i :(IW’,

v

""i»-llo"‘ l’p from his oil-lands on
.. .- \‘fwit (‘oast cams Don Tostado to
. «w Hu- sobriquet of ”Senor Bap“ be-
:-f the ease with which he was
i
:1-nor was short and fat and
His conquests of the heart at
vwnnn were far too easy. He
v..| t‘ \r a senorita who would in-

v ' "in inlvnia Thus it was that

i h- ml or. and then behold. the

— .‘Suditinlznln sln‘lng in the

. i Mn. ilne pudgy hand went

”Hun. and his eyes rolled.
Hut" lm (‘l'lriL "At I“! ha”
.' vh~ m‘m dream of my life
'm-iio one-«you shall at the
- war sit with Don Tostsdo. and
tin mu? (‘omI-I”
»-. mm is an entertainer. certain
urn incumbent. Dutifully,
' l Homr‘ru smiled upon her hO't,
' thi- little man's vanity. striv-
lllP while to play the game as
'- nnd skillfully us though she
‘mny Powell behind his layout
1:. id‘s; for she too sought only
i ' mnto percentage. But alas. this
more difficult game.
‘0”. lcciic onc." said the
‘ "ill I any that l have own
~ wand acre of oil. and am the
or the che Politico? Bueno:
two. t'ree day l leoVs. and I
l wis mommost assuredly."
mt l ('(‘Hlld not.” laughed
7 . "All-cmiy l have a querido—"
You have a sweetheart. and
wour no ring. \‘i’hat he NV

v.'l'«

r.-

H

i, i~riil0 is not rich.” acknowl-

. mu ritn. Romero. "So I do not
i Ili.|lll”nd'. But CIWIYI he

"l- u ribbon for my hair. and

‘i-A own fingers does he tie the
liuw he loves me. and how
:r‘ulous. he is! You are kind.

but truly—he may even now
Viking. and he is mos' quick

-: .. lufilfilll. You must excuse

' lmn Tnsisdo’s little black eyes
I' . vi The silverware clattorsd
"' ‘ v " -- hang of a fist.

. l .1 pcasafit?" ll. M “NO!

nus-ind pesos I lose in Brayfield:

‘\ imlsund more I have spend

>‘~nur Morwych. One word to

:rivhvi, the chief of police. and
.. w mnwshe close up! But I wool
the word. Instead, I geevono

., Mn the night of tho tomorrow——
wow... yrs! You know whyi—Jostlo
llcr‘ause. after we have danoo'
".Rhi. you shall of your own ac-

' ‘5 m way wecth mo"

1 "'rr-s quivered like a bird under

": v'll of a serpent. Morwyeh took

H- situation at a glance. eased
' wit into a chair by the dds of
lilxrflt'r Nightingale. and sent for
drinks. No one could spin a
r or more artful fabric in loss
‘ '. . than the Hencana Spider. Don
’ r'niu’s mood chamd to one of

'ii" lilo-”f.

‘H-“hn-ho." ho roared. “So. it cos
.. i .2 the Americsnos sell only a ‘stall.’
" ‘ Thnro is then no sweetheart who
i 'lld dispute woeth Don W M
v .. tum n! th. lady hs have select?

. v

i‘

' ...,

H :vnu' Honor Howell. 1 3°” W
“I'll! in your place. CM I "Y for
"Driving. Now, I must I0 III Ray

1 .r so-ll fifteen t'ousand m “L But
u‘un l tome “Ck-V. h.” . '
l‘mvs? Adlol. mat-m 0‘ fl,
l‘nri. I say the I'm ‘00. m!-
"Thnt you may D." It won ."'
limit-res spoke "I b. m m".
rulzlll head lowered ‘9 m u
lore in her 31"- um gum

That Wins“ Thom Out of the Miro.

 

The senor waddlod from the room;
The Spider released his clutch.

“Nice work. kid.” he compliment-
ed. “Ho's good for fifty thousand
more if he's kiddod along; otherwise-—
well. Tostado owns the town Be a
sonsiblo kid: and when you come back
from ”or vacation with Senor Sap.
I'll show you how to make some real
dough.

The Border Nightingale toyed with
her fan.

“'th is a ver' bad plaeo."
she mused. "It should close. senor.
Rather than do what is in your mind.
little Dolores—she kills herself."

Morwych got up. nodded carelessly.
and went out to see what new moths
had fallen into his not at the Palace.
Senorita Romero sank back into her
21.". eyes on her untouched glass of

ne.

At that moment the Ivory God re-

_.

a

,.

. ll .

\

worded the patience of Johnny Powell.
sitting alone in one corner of the room.
and rolling little sugar-lumps across
the table. The little singer turned her
head. and regarded the young Amer-
ican wistfully. Ho grinned and point-
ed to the vacant chair opposite him.
In a moment she had fluttered. wido-
eyrd, to his table.

"Amlgo mio, was it an angel of
God who bade you not to leave me
alono?"

"An angel?” said Johnny. "ln Mex-
acana? Sister. there's only one angel
here, and I can't figure out why she's
hangin' around. I get my tips from
the dice.”

“Dice?” Her quick' eyes beheld the
sugar-lumps Before he cauld guard
them, one small hand took quick poo-
session. On the up-turned face of
each cube there was a penciled heart.
Johnny Powell grow very red.

“Just kiddin' myself." he explained.
"Wanted to talk to you, but didn't
know whether you cared for home
talent. I run the game at Brayfield's.
Been shooting sugar~lumps six nights
now. and this is the first time I threw
the double house sign."

Senorita Romero veiled her eyes
under long lashes. and spoke with dif-
ficulty because of the beating of her
heart.

“1310!: art Senor Johnnny I‘ow-oll."
she pronounced. "—who have never
wrong a woman. and who have kill
men who cheat. They say that the
pobrecitas—the poor little ones at the
Palacio——those who wear the red rib-
bons-they get the money from you to
go home when no one else will give.
You see, l know much."

"You sure do.” admitted Johnny.
"I'm a bad muchacho, but I guess l
alnt what you would call rotten.
Who's been talking to you?"'
"Madam Double-chin. I live at her
house "

The face of young Brayt‘leld's guns-
keeper hardened

"What?"

“Nay. but than must not look at me
like that. Ah, please. To me she have
been a mother. and have give me the
room that is next to hers. With her
own hands one night. did she almost
strangle the man who would have-—"
She shuddered and concluded:
“Amigo. I wish that I was brave. and
could use the pistols too. yes!"

The Jazz orchestra blared into a
fox-trot. and the floor resounded to
the pit-pat 0‘ shoe and slipper. Johnny
Powell looked at the Border Night-
ingale.

"Want to take a chance?"

“With you, Senor? Ah, so gladly!"
lho floated into his arms. and for
a few precious moments forgot every-
thing elss in the realisation of a dream
that she had often conjured. .
Hitherto he had been a distant Sir
Galahad, the one maiden knight of
Hexacana. whose phantom she had
summoned to her aid in the name of
womanhood. Now she was actually
in the shelter of his arms. and he
had called her to his side because of
sugaroiumps that showed a pair of
hearts. Tho wonder of it. all waa
stillinhorsyosasthoyroturnodto
their table. As for Johnny—be was
young. and she w- very pretty.

.'I have an aunt." she told him shy-
ly. "an aunt who have one time love
an Amsricano. He was an engineer,
and verse brave and handsome. But
howaskill'.audsooilhorliforia
Christina was verso ad. like me."
Johnny looked incredulous.

“flay." she told him. “I speak truly.
The Macros have once owned all San
Roy. but with the revolutions. it go
until there was nothing but my voice
to keep my father and mother aliva
Now they are dead. and Dolores is
alone. A little while now—and the
parser nightingale is so more. The
name itssu moans 'lad Ono. senor.
Its! I

 
 
 

Illustrated by Hubert Matbieu.

A Tum-mil“ “9 Galahad—His L‘V PallbLlylng la the Continent's Toughest Town—And a Love

 

 

 

4

minutes without having been classified
correctly.

“Girl." said Johnny. "1 was think-
ing of riding across the border to-
mot-row on business. I'd like to bring
a little souvenir. Maybe a ring would
bring you luck—or is that rushing
things?"

The blood flamed into the checks of
the Border Nightingale. She lower-
ed her eyes.

“Ah. amigo." she said softly—if thou
would bring me a ribbon for my hair!”

"Sure I‘ll bring you a ribbon." said

Johnny. "W'hat color would you
like?"

Dolores studied the eyes of Sir
Galahad. '

"It must be a blue ribbon," she do-
cided, “a. most heavenly blue. For look
you-—it is also the color of the Virgin.
who was most pure; and I assure thee,

which I ween! ; You think 1 cheit?’ '
Thirty men. packed ardund~tbo long
table. held their hm."

“I told you I was Just "Mflou.."
reminded Johnn3'. “The house 'has
the right to change the dies at any
time. Use that pair. or pick up your
money." -

Pancho Gonzales draw and fired.
-The shot went wild. There was a
flash of blue from the other side of
the table, a spurt of red~—a.nd the man
from Trcs Pinon went down. No'one
else stirred or spoke.

"All right." sighed Johnny Powell.
“Pick up your money, boys, and get,
out. Don‘t you move. Momch—rve
got you covered. Everybody else,
beat ltt"

In a. few minutes Bmyfleld's was
cleared of its usual patrons. There
remained only Johnny Powell and his
fellow gamekeepers. the prostrate
figure on the floor. and Mike Mor—
wych. _

Johnny walked up to the proprietor
of the Palace. tore open the latter's
coat, and reaching one band into the
left vest pocket. withdrew a. pair of
dice with the Brayficld house—mark.
They were apparently identical with
the ivory cubes that Pancho Gonzales
had been using. but there was this
difference: The dice on the table had
the usual markings—the trey on the
light and the four on the left when
the ace was uppermost and the deuce

 

 

iliii/ ,

‘VA.
’\

 
 
 

John-nay mio. little Dolores, she has'

,, . ,. =~
""‘i’ [if gym. .- .—

 

Hc folded her a little closer. and drew back against the wall.

the right to wear it. Dost thou be-
lieve?"

Johnny nodded his head to show
that ho both believed and know.

“Leave it to mo," he told hor. "I'm
the blue ribbon kid. Peel 8. little hap-
pier now. don't you?"

She nodded dumhly.
"Me too." said Johnny.
have to get back on the Job.

bothering you. is there?"

She shook her bend. Tho snf-‘ly of
Johnny Powell had suddenly ln-vome
very precious to the Border Nightin-
gale.

"In that case," he told her, "I'll have
to win a little money for :i ranchiia
with some mango trees." lie went
away, smiling lmpplly.

”Now I
Nobody

. ..‘ . ; 1
‘ 'i‘l‘ "2'

WM '
ll 1, ""
. .‘Ljil‘ii‘ slim»!

r

Nine times the house had lost, and
there was twenty-two hundred dol-'
lars on the table. The law of aver-
ms was yielding to the reciting play
of Pancho Gonzales. gunman from the
Tree Pines country. Back of an im-
porturbabie mask. the mind of Johnny
Powell analysed swiftly the last nine
throws. and recalled that Gonzales
had first rolled the dice clear down
the table. and they had been tossed
back to him by a fat man with .beady
oyos. chewing nervously upon a. black

“Just a minute, amigo.” said Johnny
Powell. ”I feel a littlo~supesstitious
Try your luck with thongbeuqand

 

 

 
 

 

m lump-atom!”
a...” “humus-mu,
to '1‘ was!“

 

grip of Mo

wrist was hung W

 

 

was.

$33,

 

 

 
 

in front; but on the dice taken from

 

"Shoot!"

Morwych's pocket this order was re-
vcrsmi, and by that token Johnny
knvw his own tllf‘f‘. (‘old blue eyes
;lm.kml at Mot‘wM-h.

i "Don‘t you our come in here
laguin." warned Johnny. “Don't el't‘l’l
éu'ulk on the fifllixl' side of the street—-
Eumlcrstuml? Get out now before I

Edl‘ill you."

Mnrwyt-h loft “iiimut saying a Word.
Johnny l‘uwvll surri-ildcrcd. and oven
‘lhmlgh his employer
krmv how things were managed: so he
islopi peacefully on a couch in tho

i-mnaudu lit C‘s office.

1
i

Early in the morning Senorita. Rom-
icro huriiml to the Him-to].
“Alli" she quuvcrcd. "l have lnvml

 

dividual discreetly withdrew. thereby
missing the sight of Brayflcld's young
gamekeeper bending his head to meet
upturned lips -

“There.” said Johnny, "that shows
how I stand. Now you go on back
home. honey—and tonight you'll have
your blue ribbon. .

She departed unwillingly, with many
backward glances. . Later in the day
she returned and was told that Senor
Powell was no longer there. So she
went back to Madam Double-chip's
and all that afternoon was busy with
most delightful preparations.

0 Johnny raven came riding sack
from San Ramln his pockotablue

nom'rrospinoa “lkoopthsdiosby

 

was away hci

a ride "one manly. Theyouthxbrow
up both hands. iwayod in the sodas.
and then‘”slid downy elk—ta sprawl in
the remit-face downward and inert. '

A long minute passed. Then the
chaparrai at the roadside crackled.
and there emerged. warily. a native
rurale. rifle in'band. He walked can-
tiously toward the prostrate figure in
the road, and bent over. A swarthy
sandaled foot was not two inches from
Johnny Powell's right hand-and In
another second the positions of the
two men were reversed.

“Your aim was pretty good." said
Johnny "but not quite good enough.
Who told you to pot me? Pronto-—
or I let you have itl"

"The word has go out that you
have escape'. senor. There is five
hundred poses on your head."

The young American digested this
information slowly.

“Somebody’s pulling trick—dice
again." he "muttered. "If you don‘t
mind, amigo, we'll change horses and
outfits and you'll stay here for a
while.

Johnny, leaving his

 

captive bound

hand and foot. resumed his Journey.
to all outward appearances a soldado
scouting in the moonlight for an cs-
capcd prisoner.

For some reason. the comandante at
the cuartel had readily granted him
leave.

twelve hours‘ and then pro-

 
 
 

 

It was

icinimod him a Jail-breaker.
:thc oldest of border tricks—this "kill-

lcd while trying to escape." But who
swag using loadtd dice? Morwycll!

Johnny l’ou'cll drew rein. Behind
him lay ihv- American border and
safety; ahead blinked the lights of

ihicxar‘nna, whore at eleven o'clock Don
iTosludn‘s baile would open at Mike
.Moru’ych's place. He struck off in n
i’hrisk cantor toward Mexican&

3 Madam Double-chin hurried into
'Do‘iorcs' room an hour later with the
tidings she had Just learned from
;I.ltilv Bill.

1 "iloul‘ir‘." she pantcd. “sump'in aw-
fui's happcnod. Johnny broke Jail.
and they grabbed him a little while

Inil along. and now iliou nr‘. in (iun- mm at the office of the Jofc Politico.

Life moves sulftiy at Mcxncnna. An . in r.’ \llc put up an awful fight. but there
hour lair-r lirayfivlnl's young Kitlllf‘r‘ Johnny 1‘0“le “rived one hand at . was too many of 'Cm. They'll put him
keeper was imprisoned in the ('lllll'lt'l.l lilo gnlil—liraldrd bailiff. and that in—iagulnst a wall before mornln'. Ain‘t

There was a flash of blue. a short of red—and the man from Tree Pines went down.
that hell. dearie?"

The Border Nightingale
against the door.

“Madre de Dios!" she walled. "He
did not escape! The comandsnte told

reeled

me that he let my .querido go.
John—nay, Johmnay mic! Where is
he?"

"Ain‘t I mid that the ruraies have
got him? Honey. it's a frame-up_
You got hold of Morwych. dear-lei Get
hold of him quick! When Brayfield
ain't here, Hike’s the only man who
csnnx things.‘ Run, doarie! For
Gswd's sake get hold of Horwych!”
Home]: was waiting: and he
laughed! ‘

 

 

 

comm .

 

the dark halrufihe Ber-g

 

 

with him again. Wdl. rm'M It-
tln' nice and pretty.” ,

'“But he did not escape—and be but
used the pistols to dot'enG— K3. Dial.
Iseainyoureyothatyouhavedoos
this—" .

“You do. hub? Well. you should
have seen things a little earlier. Go
up to the (mortal in the morning and
set your blue ribbon: it'll have some
pretty red spots on it." '

The Border Nightingale closed her
eyes. and her fragile body ‘ quiver-ed
from head-to foot. In that brief mo-
ment she attained crucifixion. When
she again looked at Morw'ych. she
was as hard and self-possessed as he.

“Buenoi” she accepted. “All is over.
Now I shall play the game at Hexa-
cana too! Senor John—nay Powell
goes in safety across the border be-
fore morning. You know why?"

“I’ll lay you a. thousand he don't.”

“Then, senor. you lose. because to-
night I wrap Don Tootado around my
leetle finger. and in the morning I go
’way with him. and for love of me. he
do Just what I say! Does he not own
the Jets Politico? Has he not been
robbed ’by you? Bucno!‘ Her voice
rose to a shriek. “Harm but one hair
on the head of my querido. and the
woman who goes away with Don Toe-
tsdo will make him close up Xen-
cana. and send you to the wall!"

0-ho! The little moth had become
a tarantula! Morwycb blinked.

“No use us trying to out each
other's thros. " he gruntod. "You
take care of Tostado; I'll take care
of your friend.”

"You—I do not trust.” she answer-
ed. “Toatado himself shall obtain the
release. and it is to be remembered
by you that if anything happens af-
terwards. you still pay!”

Don Tostado‘s bails that night was
a most memorable occasion.

“Cost much. but what I care?" said
the Senor. "Viva. the Nightingale!
Vamos, everybody! When the morn-
ing come, Don Tostado go 'way win
the prima senor-its of the worl'. Ees
it not so. leetle dove? Flower of
my heart. we dance again!"

“It shall be ever as thou sayest.”
said little Dolores. ”Thou art indeed
a galanteador who is irresistible. and
I am thy slave. Out of the goodness
of thy heart. though, thou wilt see
that no harm befalls the young Amer—
icana who give me ribbons?”

"Have I not said so? Ver‘ good. It
ees already done. You shall send
back the cinta. you now wear. to your
frien‘ and say sat Don Tostado have
tell him to go “way. lilo. I put one
t'ousan' diamonds on each leetle fin-
ger. Me. I'm bes' caballero in worl'!"

The hours flow by on the wings of
revclry . . . . Dawn brought the first
flush to purple mountainotops. Juan
Cabrillo, secretary to the che Politico.
presented himself at the cuartel. He
had notes both from His Excellency.
who was indisposed. and from Senor
Morwych. who was also drunk. It
was all a mistake about the Ameri-
cano.

"Bueno!"

The matter had been adjusted: he
was to go free.

"Bucno!"

The secretary had a. notofrom her
who was the lady of Don Tostado‘s
choice—also a hair-ribbon: the Amer-
lcano would understand.

"Bueno!" again! Who cares?

So. at the hour which is usually
selected for removing a man from the
cuartel to a (not “I!“ tho adobe
wall. they liberated Johnny Powell and
handed him a note from Senorita
Romero. accompanied by a. hair-rib-
bon that was not as beautiful as the
one in his pocket. The message was
this:

Senor Powell:

I return thy ribbon that thou
muyst understand there is noth-
ing any longer between us. Senor
Tostado. who is very rich and
honorable. is to take me away.
and this morning I go with him
joyfully. Because of his good—
ness of heart. he has interceded
in thy behalf, but thou art to
r‘rnss to thine own country at once
and never return.

I who am most proud and happy
advise thee to think no more of

Dolores Romero.

Johnny fingered the satin bow. and
his sensitive fingers. trained to de-
tect the slightest irregularity in an
ivory cube. felt the crinkle of paper
under the center knot of the ribbon.
He stuffed the bow carelessly into his
coat pocket.

“Make a nice little souvenir.” be
said to the secretary. 'I'iens agar-
lilo?"

The secretary proffered cigarette
and shrugged apologetically. His
Excellency would prefer that you
not return to the hotel. and so I have
myself collect’ your money at Senor

Brayfield's. It see here. We ride
south to Ayala. and there you may
cross."

"You‘re some little master of core-
monies." Johnny acknowledged. ”Lead
on!"

Twenty feet past a Jutting rock that
hid them from view of the cuartcl on
the bill. Johnny Powell leaned forward
in the saddle. and his right fist caught
Juan Cnbrlllo Just behind the ear. The
secretary to his Excellency slumped
off sideways, and sprawled face down-
ward in the dust. Forth from Johnny
Powell's pocket came his lady's rib-
bon Under the knot was a second
note. His eyes deciphored the lines
written hurriedly in pencil! '

Querido Mic:

Thy kiss is still warm on'my
lips—how can I go to my death.
knowing thou wilt think me false?
Tostado is old and ugly. and a
most terrible mentor. But the
price was thy lifa beloved—and
gladly therefore do I pay.

In my bosom there to poison
I have got from in Belle Helene.
This will I take when thou hast
reached .fety. Go. and in the
days to come (may they be many.
amor- mic). ~think sometimes of
the little one who is no more.

Adios—-

» Dolores.

Juan Cabrillo was coming to life.
Brayfield’s gamokeeper and
shock. and clawed the man out of his
stupor. found a gun and Jammod it
into Cabrillo's ribs—pulled the whole
wretched story out of bins in gasps

“At the (has Crux." ahead-us his
victim. “on the Camino Ian llguol.
Si si—they are to breakfast. than.
Mercy. senor. do not kill!”

Filing bodily into the mosquito. Gab-

rawhlde. galloped 03
:1 yheeled ”
a. w ‘sns strong

 

m-bbwn hos-so. In the -
a doses of Don Tostado'sv ~
sprawled on benches. but be 3‘
drawnrovolvorinhishand.and’
made no move until be bad _
peered through the doorway of; .
Ca. it'll.
heavy gates. and docked toward Ch
patio. ‘
- Johnny Powell was standing in

'49

Cabrillo's revolver trained on a w
ms to the spellbound Senorita Boll-
oro. Doloru shrieked a
it was too late. Behind 7
American, Jose Garcia, proprietm g
the Can Crux. appeared sudden!)
with a heavy wine-bottle. He'brm‘
it down with compelling force on 9'
head of Johnny Powell, and Johnny
crumpled up.

When he came to himself. Delta.
was kneeling by his side in the court-
yard. and they were surrounded by a
wall of Tootsdo's men.

“Querido mio.” whispered a voice. “I
had so hoped to save thee! Thou
shouldot have gone. But alL m
I understand!"

He nodded dully. and struggled n
his feet, swaying like a drunken “I;

He put a protecting arm around the
Border Nightingale and steadied hills-
self. In front of them stood Senor
Tostado, holding in his fat hands a
blue hair-ribbon. and two notes that
had been taken from the captives
pocket. The Senora dark eyes was
ringed with red. A cockatoo does not
like to have his crest sheared away.

"So," he hissed. "it is the gringo that
I already eave' from being shot. who
would interfere some more. eh? And
you. senorits—you theenk that I an
old and ugly and such a monstalr. ob?
You try to make the fool of Don
Tostado—no? I show you a leetle
Joke. too! W’lth your backs against
the wall~bothi Virtues!"

Johnny Powell's head cleared in-
stantly; but his face went linen white.

"Hold on." he pleaded. “She’s not
in on this. Smear me all over the
place if you want. But you let this
little girl go. You're a good fellow.
hombre—you're a big sport. see? You
wouldn't shoot a baby Just because
she did a little kiddin'. She didn't
mean—-"

Dolores put a small band over his
mouth. Her eyes were lit with the
flame of a Joan of Arc.

"Hush. beloved! Did I not tell a

there was poison in my bosom.
Querido, we die together; otherwise
we ,but die apart."

She turned to Tostado. "Senor. may

I but; have the ribbon that is so

blue? You will not refuse a last re-
quest.”
“What I care?" roared the Senor.

"Ho—ho—let your lover tie the ribbon
in your hair. and then say good-by
with one leetle keen—so! It will ha
a good play in the theater. Two mils-
ute'. I ring down the curtains-
Amlgos. to your guns."

The little Border Nightingale turn--
ed to Johnny Powell. Her hands
pressed into his the satin symbol of
their fragile romance. They are brave
little creatures. these Montana
moths!

“Look you.” she instructed. ‘w‘bcre
the braid begins. Johmnay mio! Give
no thought to him. . . . We are mar-
ried. and all is well. With your right
hand, so—and then the clasp under
and back. . . .There is a catch, be-
loved—often have I dreamed of this.
. . . . Ah. bravo! Thou art admirable!
And now tell me. do you love. or no?“

She twisted in his arms. Just as
though they had been alone. and
death was not a matter of seconds.

“Girl—oh. girl" said Johnny Powell,
“you're braver than I am. and I love
you!"

He folded her a little closer. and
drew back against the. wall. A mo-
ment he steeled himself. and then
looked at Don Tostado.

“Shoot!"

Dolores hid her face agaimt his
coat. Johnny Powell's lips caressed

her hair. What lovem: What chil—
drent
Over the face of Senor Don Jon

Mario. Lopez Tostado there passed tho
look of an artist who stands spell-
bound before the work of a. rival hand.
He continued to contemplate the mas-
terpiece. Somehow he no longer look-
ed like a cockatoo. and his dark oy-
refiocted first growing incredullty.
then profound admiration, and final”
the divine light of s. heaven-sent idem
He waved a pudgy hand at his runlu.
“60 'way. leefle mens. go ’way. I
am a ver’ gran' caballero. All by my—
self I desire to have my revenge."

Tbs ragged filing—squad lower“

their weapons and lazily withdrew.
The Senor advanced upon fl.
lovers.

“Union, you naughty leetlo ones."
he directed. “I have an idea that to
much more better. Look you. in the
stable are two ver’ good horses Then
you will mount at once. Ovalr‘thers
is the road to San Miguel. “are the
silly leetle padre live' that ride a. white
burr-o: and beyond lies the country
that is safe for children. These shall
be the gran‘ revenge of Senor Don
Jose Maria Lopes Tostado. who eel
old and ugly and e. monstair. but still
the bes' cabailero in the worl‘l“

He drew himself erect and snapped
one hand to his sombrero.

“Beau. I mute!"

I-Ie bowed as low as his waistline
would permit.

“Senorita. I kees the hand of th
only lad! I nevair ween. And.now-'—-
adios amigos! But no! First—ho-b-
ha! I buy one drecnk!"

For down the West Coat. “-
wlcbed between the new railroad aid
movenoldsegtbereisaranchita
where of evenings two sit in the murm-
tht. and figure up the profits It.
the earloads of tomatoes that go north
in ever-increasing number. Dom
rolls the cigarettes for both. and do.
canclonas de amor in defiance to the

per in the canons.

In the autumn Madam Double-cl.
came down to visit them. With dia-
monds from on her own dam Id
shesmlthelipsofaruraiewbeaaso
across a fat and loathsome thing one
morning, huddled among the rods
that border the Emma highway.

”Johnny.“ muses laden Dom:
ems. "sooner or later a man gets I”
wint's oomin’ to him in this world.
You remunber Sadie—the little bind
with the cough that worked in the
restaurant? Morwycb didn't know
that was Little Bill's stator. 'Wel.
doarlo. in a spot you could m with
a mucor: six shots. and every .5
of them—" 2

 

Then they clo‘d b 5

doorway of the dining-room. m
cockatomandhislofthandbeckaaam

mountain lions that sometimes win-r

 

 

vi

our"
them.

 

 

 

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